Kent Police Receives 100 New Cuddly Recruits

Kent Police has taken on 100 new cuddly recruits thanks to a generous donation by the Swale Knit and Natter Group.

Police Constable Darren Chapman visited members of the group in Sittingbourne on Wednesday 27th August to receive the new cuddly toys, which will be used under the Roads Policing Unit's Trauma Teddies scheme.

All traffic vehicles now carry the Trauma Teddies which are given to youngsters up to the age of six when they are trapped in a vehicle or involved in a collision either as a passenger or pedestrian.

PC Chapman came up with the idea after having attended many distressing collisions involving young people. He told the SFM News Team: "I was delighted to meet the ladies from Swale Knit and Natter and accept their generous donation. They heard about Trauma Teddies scheme earlier this year and wanted to help and, over the course of the last few months, handmade over 100 knitted toys.I was able to spend some time with the ladies and explain how the scheme works and thank them for their donations and time they spent on creating some very good quality cuddly toys. It's always more difficult when young children are involved in a collision because you cannot always explain what is happening to them. Fear and confusion can overwhelm them and sometimes all they need is comfort and reassurance rather than the type of explanation you would give an adult."

The Swale Knit and Natter group meets every Wednesday morning, between 10.30am and 12 Noon and every Thursday evening between 5.45 and 7.45pm, at Sittingbourne Library on Central Avenue and are always looking for new members.